


Est. 1937
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Auckland Deaf Society
Established in 1937, Auckland Deaf Society (ADS) is New Zealand’s largest (and second oldest) Deaf Club. Previously called the 'Auckland Adult Deaf Society' and the 'Deaf Welfare Centre', the club’s original home was at an old shop on 47 Parnell Road in Auckland, before moving to 164 Balmoral Road with enormous support from the 'Friends of the Deaf'. Auckland Deaf Society is now located at 16 Hillsborough Road.

1989
article – Taonga source: Kerry Titcombe
Deaf easily skirt language hurdle
Deaf people can communicate country to country with more ease than those who can speak. It is not because they have an international sign language – each country has its own – but because it is a visual language.

NZSL Stories


1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News
NZ Deaf News: January 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 1)
NZSL Stories


1946
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
Teaching The Deaf To Speak
Margaret is one of some 21 kiddies, aged from five to seven years, who for the most part born deaf, are receiving special instruction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington, the first Catholic institution of its kind to be established in the Dominion.




1992
article – Taonga source: Unknown
New ideas from London course on teaching
Rebecca was recently chosen, aong with seven other deaf New Zealanders, to attend a two-week training course in London to learn the basic concepts of teaching sign language.






Est. 1962
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Manawatu Deaf Society
SignDNA is grateful to the Manawatu Deaf Society who have donated a large collection of films, recorded and edited by Joan Bailey, its founder. Established in 1962, it was originally named the Manawatu Deaf Sports Club. Later it was changed to the Manawatu Deaf Society.


1984
article – Taonga source: The Auckland Star
Ref has tough job in a silent world
Peter Downie is a basketball referee of considerable merit, a national badge holder for eight years, Downie recently shifted to Auckland from Christchurch.
NZSL Stories


1981
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
Deaf worker soon calms the nerves
Wellington has a new worker among the deaf. Pat Dugdale, profoundly deaf, has been made field officer by the New Zealand Association of the Deaf. Her job is to provide personal social service help and to liaise with organisations, welfare agencies, commercial institutions and lawyers on behalf of the deaf.
NZSL Stories


1987
article – Taonga source: The Dominion
An actor learns about being deaf
Children Of A Lesser God, a play that tackles the communication problems faced by deaf people, opens at Circa tomorrow night. Suzanne Pollard talks to two of the cast about their roles.






Est. 1938
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Wellington Deaf Society
Wellington Deaf Society is the heart of the Wellington Deaf Community. Established on 30 July 1938, has moved a couple of times since its formation, from gatherings at people's places, leased halls and buildings, meet-ups at different pubs, to a co-owned building at 17 Bannister Ave, Johnsonville, Wellington – where it is now.


1986
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society
Runner-Up: Trans-Tasman Games for the Deaf, Melbourne 1976




1984
article – Taonga source: Contact
Deaf friends
Deaf people in the Wellington region now have a new organisation, Friends of the Deaf, an umbrella group for all the deaf organisations in the area.


2000
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo
Memories of John McRae
John McRae is filmed at his home in Napier where he lived with his wife Verna. John explains some highlights from his life story including his experiences at school, travelling the world for Deaf sports, and his involvement in the Deaf community. The video includes his commentary of various photos and objects in their house.


NZSL Stories


1946
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet
Making the Deaf Hear and the Dumb Speak: The Splendid Work of St. Dominic’s School, Wellington.
Two years ago, the New Zealand Dominicians opened a Catholic school for deaf children at 15 Dover Street, Island Bay, Wellington. The article records the impressions of a Wellington journalist who visited the school recently.


1992
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive
New Zealand Police Commissioner considers Deaf access to justice
Two weeks after 'The Remand of Ivan Curry' screens on TV1, Police Commissioner John Jamieson meets with Jennifer Brain to work out better procedures for dealing with Deaf people in custody.




1987
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NFD Journal: December 1987 (Vol. 1 No. 4)








Est. 1994
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE
Friends for Young Deaf (FYD)
The Friends for Young Deaf (FYD) movement swept through New Zealand when Christoph Blum was appointed as Youth Coordinator in 1994 after training in England in the early 1990s. The theoretical components of leadership were put into practice on a real-time basis, merging with the Kiwi love of camps and outdoor living. Many of today’s young Deaf leaders participated in an FYD camp at some stage of their development.


2006
video – Taonga source: DEAFinitely Youth Group
2nd National Deaf Youth Camp, 2006
Footage of the 2nd National Deaf Youth Camp was during 25 September to 30 September 2006, with 50 participants. The event was organised by Christchurch Deaf Youth Club which was set up after the 1st National Deaf Youth Camp.


NZSL Stories


1987
article – Taonga source: Los Angeles Times
Dictionary of Signs: CSUN Gets Book, Gratitude of New Zealand Deaf
The CSUN library is given a copy of 'Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language', the first published dictionary of the native language of New Zealand's 6,000 deaf with 1,200 signs.












